Shaktikanta Das On How Targeting Inflation Is Comparable To Arjuna's Focus On The Bird's Eye

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das is often asked questions on his monetary policy actions by members of the public. The 66-year-old is sometimes surrounded at the airport, where everyone from CISF jawans to fellow passengers quiz him on the impact of inflation and interest rates. “That’s the level of awareness people have today,” Das said at a recent FICCI event. In fact, the credit goes to Das who has simplified the concept of inflation targeting for the general public when he likened the RBI’s focus to Arjuna’s unwavering eye, aiming to maintain inflation at 4 per cent. Mandated by Parliament, the RBI, much like child Arjuna in the Mahabharata, remains fixated on its target, akin to Arjuna’s focus on the bird’s eye during Guru Dronacharya’s test. Governor Das emphasises a precision similar to Arjuna’s single-minded vision, articulating the goal of keeping retail inflation at 4 percent or below.